Service platter



SERVI CE PLATTER Filed March 25, 11937 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SERVICE PLATTER Margaret Bertsch, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 25,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to individual service platters and my improvement is directed to a device of the character indicated which is provided with thumb hold engaging means whereby it may be supported by one hand of the user, said platter being provided with a number of depressions for the containment of food portions and also having supporting means for a drinking vessel.

Other features and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of my improved service platter.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing a drinking vessel mounted on its support, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of the platter with the drinking vessel support pressed therefrom.

The platter, indicated at I, may obviously be composed of any suitable material, and, like an artists palette, is provided with a thumb hole 2, here shown as of ovoid contour, for the reception of a users thumb, to be inserted from the back of the platter, to engage the platter front surface and thus to permit gripping of the platter between the thumb and fingers.

The platter, while not limited as to its particular contour, is here for example shown to be slightly ovoid, and thumb hole 2 is shown as formed in the lesser half, said thumb hole, which itself is more pronouncedly ovoid, having its larger portion, to contain the thumb root, most distant from the larger half of the platter. Also said larger half of the thumb hole, which may be called the back portion, is provided with an upstanding, rolled over wall 3 that forms a back support for the thumb, while the front portion of said thumb hole is rolled under, as at 4 to avoid presenting a sharp edge for the thumb in lying upon the platter. o

These considerations with respect to the thumb hole are predicated on the platter being of sheet metallic material or the like, and obviously will have less signicance if the platter be moulded from wood pulp, plastic material, glassware or ceramic material, and have greater thickness.

1937, Serial No. 132,994

Rearward of the thumb hole, in the longitudinal axis of the platter, is positioned a conoidal member 5, which may, as shown in Fig. 2 be secured as by a screw 6; or, as shown at 5 in Fig. 3, may be formed integrally with the platter. Said conoidalV member is adapted to t within a conoidal cavity 'I formed in the stand or base portion 8 of a drinking vessel 9 whereby the drinking vessel may be securely supported on the service platter except when the user removes itY for drinking purposes.

The drinking vessel may be a coifee cup, cocktail glass or any other desired container, and its base 8, with Vthe interior cavity l, is sufficiently wide to provide a rm stand for the vessel on any plane surface.

Of course the conoidal mount member 5V or 5 enables the drinking vessel to be held securely against slipping on the platter as the latter is supported at varying angles by one of the users hands.

Also the platter is provided on its surface with a numberV of depressions Ill, suitably arranged and adapted to contain sandwiches or other food articles, so that the platter, supported by one hand of the user, becomes a complete service platter for food and drink, the users other hand being available for conveying food and drink to the mouth.

Variations Within the spiritV and scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

I claim:v

A service platter having a thumb hole and a plurality of depressions located in spaced relation along the marginal portion of said platter and adapted to receive food articles, and a conoidal mount, for the reception of a vessel, position-ed rearwardly of said thumb hole, said mount and said thumb hole being arranged substantially along the longitudinal axis of said platter, the arrangement being such as to maintain a balance when the platter and its contents are supported through the medium of said thumb hole.

MARGARET BERTSCH. 

